Prefabricated buildings made-up of a plurality of box-shaped sections

ABSTRACT

A prefabricated multi-story building which is constructed of a plurality of elongated rectangular box-shaped prefabricated sections. The sections which extend across the width of the building are aligned both horizontally and vertically. Each section has a framework of metal beams with vertical supporting beams disposed at the corners of each section. The sections of each floor are provided with walls which include, or are coincident with vertical support beams at least in part to define a central horizontal passage through each floor of the building and the aligned beams coincident with the walls provide a major part of the central structural support of the building. Elevator shafts are also provided in vertically aligned sections near the passage. Further, kitchens and interior hallways are provided adjacent the passage in some sections. A single section or two sections connected end-to-end are disclosed to extend across the width of the building, the single section for apartment houses, the two connected sections for office buildings and hotels. Buildings so constructed may be located to have their ends adjacent and extend outwardly in a radial fashion whereupon their adjacent ends may be connected by a general purpose building providing shopping or recreational facilities or the like with the lower floor passages leading into the general purpose building. On outer walls of the sections outwardly extending frames may be placed around alternate windows both horizontally and vertically to provide a checkerboard effect.

United States Patent [1 1 Van der Lely PREFABRICATED BUILDINGS MADE-UP OF A PLURALITY OF BOX-SHAPED SECTIONS [76] lnventor: Cornelis Van der Lely. ZUg.

Switzerland {22] Filed: Nov. 21, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 418,103

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov, 24, 1972 Netherlands 7215927 [52] US. Cl. 52/236; 52/79; 52/237 [51] Int. Cl. E04B 1/348 [58] Field of Search 52/79, 236, 234, 237, 185, 52/169 DT. 175

Primary Examiner-Price C. Faw, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm- Mason, Mason 8L Albright Aug. 26, 1975 5 7 ABSTRACT A prefabricated multi-story building which is constructed of a plurality of elongated rectangular boxshaped prefabricated sections. The sections which extend across the width of the building are aligned both horizontally and vertically. Each section has a framework of metal beams with vertical supporting beams disposed at the corners of each section. The sections of each floor are provided with walls which include, or are coincident with'vertical support beams at least in part to define a central horizontal passage through each floor of the building and the aligned beams coincident with the walls provide a major part of the central structural support of the building. Elevator shafts are also provided in vertically aligned sections near the passage. Further, kitchens and interior hallways are provided adjacent the passage in some sections. A single section or two sections connected end-toend are disclosed to extend across the width of the building, the single section for apartment houses, the two connected sections for office buildings and hotels. Buildings so constructed may be located to have their ends adjacent and extend outwardly in a radial fashion whereupon their adjacent ends may be connected by a general purpose building providing shopping or recreational facilities or the like with the lower floor passages leading into the general purpose building. On outer walls of the sections outwardly extending frames may be placed around alternate windows both horizontally and vertically to provide a checkerboard effeet.

57 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTED muzsms SHEET 3 OF 5 uff Aurszsms 3,900,994 PATtNTED SHEET 5 M g PREFABRICATED BUILDINGS MADE-UP OF A PLURALITY OF BOX-SHAPED SECTIONS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to prefabricated buildings constructed from a plurality of box-shaped sections each enclosing part of the internal space of the building.

According to the present invention there is provided a prefabricated building comprising a plurality of boxshaped sections, each of which encloses part of the space of the building, wherein, viewed on plan, a section is elongated and part of a section comprises a portion of a passage of the building, the passage portion of the section extending at least mainly in the direction of width of the section.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan of part of a story of a prefabricated building constructed of a plurality of box shaped sections,

FIG. 2 is a plan of the remainder of the story of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the box-shaped sections of the building of FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an array of a plurality of buildings such as the building of FIGS. 1 and 2 disposed in a star-shaped fashion,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the buildings as shown in FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a plan of the ground floor ofa further form of prefabricated building constructed of a plurality of box'shaped sections,

FIG. 7 is a plan of another storey of the building of FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is an elevation of three buildings constructed of box-shaped sections and arranged in star-shaped fashion, viewed in the direction of arrow X in FIG. 9,

FIG. 9 is a plan of the three buildings shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 shows on an enlarged scale a detail of the buildings of FIGS. 8 and 9 viewed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 9,

FIG. 11 is a plan of the ground floor of a prefabricated building constructed of a plurality of box-shaped sections and designed as a hotel, and

FIG. 12 is a plan ofa higher story of the hotel of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The storey shown in plan in FIGS. 1 and 2 is made-up of box-shaped. space defining sections 1 to 20. Each of these sections is a box-shaped, space-bounding building section of which the section 9 is shown in FIG. 3, viewed in the direction of arrow III in FIG. 1.

Each of the sections has a characteristic form, as shown for the section 9, in FIG. 3, comprising a bottom 21 and a top 22, interconnected by walls 23 and 24. The walls 23 and 24 constitute facade portions of the erected building. The section 9 furthermore has two internal walls 25 and 26 extending parallel to the walls 23 and 24. The section also has at the outer corners of the bottom 21 vertical columns 27, 28, 29 and 30 and four columns 31, 32, 33 and 34 at the ends of the walls 25 and 26. These eight columns are formed by tubular metal beams. the cross-sections of which define a quandrangular hollow space. At the bottom and top of the section the columns are interconnected by horizontal beams. for example. the lower beams 38, 39 and 40 and the upper beams 41, 42 and 43 that can be seen in FIG. 3. These horizontal beams extend between the lower and upper ends of the columns 27, 31, 32 and 28. In the same manner the other sides of the sections are provided with horizontal beams. Between the lower ends and the upper ends of the columns at the corners horizontal beams are provided in the short sides of the section. which are not shown in detail.

The section thus has a skeleton of beams. to which the various walls are attached. The skeleton of beams constitutes the main supporting structure of the section and the skeleton of each section thus forms part of the supporting structure of the erected building as a whole. As an alternative, a section may be constructed in such a way that the wall itself forms for a greater part the supporting structure. A section has a length 35, preferably, of more than eight meters and less than fifteen meters. In this embodiment the length amounts to about fourteen meters. The width 36 of the section is preferably larger than two meters and smaller than four and one-half meters. In this embodiment the width amounts to about two and three-quarters meters. The height 37 of the section is about three meters.

Between the internal walls 25 and 26 a space 44 is formed transversely of the direction of length 35 of the section and midway between the outer walls 23 and 24. On either side of the space 44 spaces 45 and 46 are provided which are enclosed by the outer walls 23, 24 and the inner walls 25, 26. i

The sections 1'' to 8 and 10 to 20 are substantially identical with the section 9 shown in FIG. 3. Each of these sections includes a space corresponding with the space 44 in section 9, save that in the section 10 a wall such as the wall 25 is omitted. From FIGS. 1 and 2 it will appear that these spaces in the sections join each other so as together to constitute a main passage 50 in the building, the part of each of the sections 1 to 9 on one side of the passage 50 being a mirror-image of the part of the section on the other side of the passage 50, which facilitates manufacture. On either side of the main passage 50 the sections 1 to 20 have various spaces. Each of the sections in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, save the section 9, has additional partitioning walls so that on either side of the main passage 50 in the story shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 dwelling flats are formed.

The story shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is one of a multistory building for dwelling purposes. Each of the sections is preferably completely prefabricated so that the sections can be transported from the factory to the building site, where they can be arranged side by side and one upon the other to form the building. The sections are arranged in the stories of the building so that the sections of the various stories are exactly located beneath and over a further section. The columns 27 to 34 are supported on the columns of a subjacent section of the lower story or of the ground floor.

The entrance to the various stories of the building is provided by elevators comprising lifts 51 and 52 and staircases such as the staircase 53 of FIG. 1 which is provided in the section 10 along with shaft portions 54 and 55 forming part of the lift well in the building. The staircase 53 joins at its lower end a landing 56 located on the bottom of the section 10 and terminating towards the center of the section in the main passage portion 57 of this section. Doors 58 and 59 in the main passage portion 57 gives access to the lifts 51 and 52. The lift shaft portions 54 and 55 of the section 10 are located on one side of the passage portion 57 and the staircase 53 is located on the other side of the passage portion 57. The staircase 53 has a width 49 equal to ap proximately half the width 48 of the section and extends along along side of the section 10 in contact with a wall 62 between vertical columns 60 and 61 of the section. Opposite the wall 62 the section 10 has a wall 63 between vertical columns 64 and 65. In line with the wall 63 the section has a wall 66, part of which is a boundary of the lift shaft portion 54. The lift shaft portions 54 and 55 are also bounded by a wall 67 extending parallel to the width of the section throughout the width thereof and by a wall 68 located in a long side of the section on one side of the shaft portion 55. The wall 67 runs alongside a second wall 69 for obtaining a satisfactory partition between the lift shaft portions 54 and 55 and a space 70 enclosed in the section 10 between a facade wall 71 and the wall 69.

The space 70 in the section 10 forms part of a room 72, completed by further spaces located in the sections 8 and 9 which room 72 constitutes a living room of an apartment or a dwelling flat 79 extending over the parts of the sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, located on one side of the main passage 50 in the story shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In addition to the room 72, the flat 79 has a kitchen 73 in the section 8; three bedrooms 74, 75 and 76 in the sections 7, 6 and a toilet 94 in the section 8; and a bathroom 77 extending over the whole width of the section 5 immediately adjacent the main passage 50. A passage 78 within the flat and constituting a secondary passage of the building extends through the sections 6, 7 and 8 parallel to and adjacent the main passage 50. Since this passage 78 is adjacent the main passage 50, the bedrooms 74 to 76 are separated from the main passage 50 by the passage 78 and the bathroom 77. Access to the flat 79 is provided by a door 80 opening into the passage 78 from the main passage 50 and disposed in a wall 81 of the section 8, which is a boundary wall of the main passage portion 82 of the section 8.

The section 9 has a wall 83 alongside the wall 68 of the section 10, which wall 68 is part of the boundary of the left shaft 55 and joins the wall 69. The lift shaft portions 54 and 55 of the section are thus separated by double walls from the sitting room 72 of the flat 79 and a room 123 and bathroom 126 of a flat 120 in the section 11.

The sections 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 also form a dwelling flat 90 on the side of the main passage 50 opposite the flat 79. The flat 90 has a living room 91 extending through part of the section 9 and part of the section 8 and separated from the staircase 53 of the section 10 by the wall 62 of the section 10 and by a wall 92, of the section 9, that is against the wall 62. The living room 91 is thus adequately insulated from the staircase 53. From FIG. 1 it will be apparent that the dwelling flat 90 is the mirror image of the dwelling flat 79 so that the flat 90 will not be further described.

Since the flats 79 and have their kitchens and toilets arranged in the section 8 and the bathrooms in the section 5, while the sections 6, 7 and 9 comprise mainly only room portions separated by inner walls. an advantageous structure is obtained for the prefabrication of the sections. The more complicated equipment of a dwelling is thus arranged in only two sections. whereas the other sections can have a comparatively simple construction. By constructing the sections in mirrorimage fashion with respect to their centers. an advantageous distribution of the weight of the sections in the direction of their lengths is ensured.

The part of the story shown in FIG. 1 includes furthermore four dwelling flats 100, 101, 102 and 103, each of which is located entirely on one side or the other of the main passage 50 of the story and extends over parts of two sections. The flats to 103 are identical and only the flat 100 will be described in detail. The flat 100 consists of a living room 104 with a kitchen 105 and a hall 106 arranged completely in the section 4. The hall 106 is at right angles to the main passage 50 and is accessible from the main passage by a door 107. The flat 100 is completed by a room 108 and a bathroom 109 arranged in the section 3, the bathroom 109 being located alongside the portion 110 of the main passage 50 that is in the section 3 and extending over the whole width of the section 3.

The walls of the sections facing the outer facade of the building have windows for the various rooms of the flats.

By separating the rooms. such as the rooms 108 and 140 from the main passage 50 by means of the bathroom 109 and the kitchen 105, the rooms are satisfactorily insulated from sound transmission from the main passage. The dwellings are optimally separated from each other by providing walls in the various sections so that the adjacent dwellings are separated from each other by a double wall. Thus, the flat 90 is separated from the flat 100 by a wall 111 in the long side of the section 5 and a wall 112 in the long side of the section 4. The separation walls between the flats are thus formed by two independent walls so that a satisfactory insulation between the flats is obtained.

The story shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 furthermore includes on one side of the main passage 50 three dwelling flats 120, 121, and 122. The flat 120, which extends over the three sections 11, 12 and 13, has two rooms 123 and 125, a kitchen 124, a bathroom 126, a hall 128 and a toilet 127. Through a door 129 the hall 128 communicates with the main passage 50. The flat 121 extends over four sections 14, 15, 16 and 17 and has three rooms 130 (in the section 14), 131 (in the section 15) and 132 (sections 16 and 17), a kitchen 133 in the section 16 and partly bounded by an outer wall portion 134 of the section 16, a hall 135 (sections 15 and 16) and a bathroom 136 (section 14). Through a door 137 the hall 135 communicates with the main passage 50.

The flat 122 has two bedrooms 140 and 141 and a living room 142. The living room 142 has an open kitchen 143, which can be closed by a pivotable or folding wall 144. The open kitchen 143 is located at the side of a bathroom 145, the kitchen 143 and the bathroom 145 having the same width 146, which slighly exceeds half the width of the section 18. The bathroom 145 is located alongside the portion 147 of the main passage 50. The flat 122 also has a hall 148 extending over the sections 19 and 20 and which. through a door 149, communicates with the main passage 50.

On the side of the main passage 50 opposite the flats 120, 121 and 122, flats 160, 161, 162, 163 and 164 are located. The flats 160 and 161 are identical and extend each over parts of three sections. Each ofthese flats has a spacious hall 165 with a kitchen 166 joining the main passage wall. a living room 167 and a bedroom 168 with a bathroom 169 also extending along the passage wall. The two rooms 167 and 168, in common with all other habitable rooms of the dwellings are located along the facades of the building and have as one boundary an external wall of a section provided with a window.

The flat 162 is located in approximately half of the two sections 17 and 18, and has rooms 170 and 171, a storage cupboard 172, a hall 173 and a bathroom 174, at the wall of which an open kitchen 175 is arranged, which is open to the room 171. The bathroom 174 and the kitchen 175 have the same width and are the same as the bathroom 145 with the open kitchen 143. The bathroom 174 with the kitchen 175 are however, located along the long side of the section 18 opposite that along which the bathroom 145 with the kitchen 143 are located.

The flats 163 and 164 are identical and form each a one-room dwelling, arranged as a whole in only approximately half of a section. As is shown for the flat 163, each of these flats has a room 180, a bathroom 181 with a toilet and an open kitchen 182, which can be closed by a pivotable or folding wall 183. The bathroom 181 has the same width as the kitchen 182 and extends over a portion 184 of the width of the section 19, which is slightly larger than half the width of the section. At the side of the bathroom 181 a passage 185 is provided to the room 180, the passage 185 forming a hall with a door 186 giving access to the hall 185 from the main passage 50.

In a story as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 various dwelling flats are obtained in a simple manner on either side of the main passage 50. An advantageous location of the dwellings is thus obtained so that each dwelling is located along a facade of the building. The end walls of the elongated sections have windows, as is shown in FIG. 3 for the section 9 with the windows 190 and 191. Thus every dwelling receives an adequate quantity of daylight and has a satisfactory view of the environment. Owing to the central location of the main passage 50 in the building and the length of each section, of about fourteen meters, which length is equal to the width of the building, sufficient space is obtained on either side of the main passage for providing living accommodation. The main passage 50 may have a width 192 of about two meters.

The position of the sections containing the means of communication between the various stories of the building, for example, the position of the section 10, approximately at the center of the direction of length of the building, provides an advantageous access to the various apartments from the center of the building. An advantageous construction of the sections containing the means of communication, for example the section 10, is obtained by arranging in the sections on one side of the main passage portion, for example, portion 57 in the center of the section, the staircase, for example, the staircase 53 and on the other side the lift shaft portions web as 54 and 55. The lift shaft portions join the main passage portion and may be provided with the desired gear for the lifts 51 and 52, for example. guides for the lifts. during the prefabrication of the sections.

A building constructed of a plurality of stories of the kind shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be advantageously employed for a complex of a plurality of buildings erected in starshaped fashion. as is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 shows three buildings 200, 201, 202 of the same size. each having ten stories.

The present buildings preferably have a plurality of stories. for example, more than four storeys. However, it is also possible to erect a building of only one story of the kind shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Then the section 10 need not have a lift shaft or a staircase. The buildings shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are all three dwellings, each of the stories containing several apartments. The subdivision of the various stories into a plurality of apartments may. however. be chosen differently than is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

, Between the neighboring ends of the buildings 200, 201, and 202 Le. at the end 203, 204 and 205, a building 206 of one story is provided at ground level, this building joining the end walls 203, 204 and 205. Building 206 can be effectively arranged between the neighboring ends of the buildings and serve social purposes as desired in dwelling complexes. The building 206 may, for example, include a restaurant and one or more shops. Depending upon the space available between the neighboring ends of the buildings the building 206 may be a sports hall or a sports hall with a swimming pool. The building 206 may be accessible from the buildings 200 to 202 through doors. Such a passage may be provided in the ground floor at one end of the main passage of this ground floor.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show embodiments of a building which constitutes an office. FIG. 6 is a plan of a ground floor 210 and FIG. 7 is a plan of a further story 211 of the office building. Each story. as is shown in FIG. 6, is composed of fourteen parallelepipedshaped, spacebounding building sections 212 to 225 on one side of the building, and fourteen. box-shaped sections 226 to 239 also shaped in parallelepiped form and located on the other side of the building. The sections have each a width 240 of, for example. two and three-quarters meters and a length 241 of, for example, twelve meters. The sections 212 to 225 are located in contact with each other at their long sides as are the sections 226 to 239. The sections 212 to 225 are in contact at their short sides with the sections 226 to 239 so that each short side of one of the sections 212 to 225 is completely in contact with a short side of one of the sections 226 to 239. The building thus has a width 242 equal to twice the length 241 of a section. The length 243 of the building in this embodiment is fourteen times the width 240 of the sections. As an alternative. the building may be made longer or shorter by arranging more or fewer sections with their long sides side by side in the building. Each of the sections includes a beam structure, each section having six vertical columns, as is shown for the section 212 having columns 244, 245, 246, 247, 248 and 249. The vertical columns are interconnected at their lower and upper ends by horizontal beams as is shown for the section 9 in FIG. 3.

The various sections have walls so that the desired outer walls of the building are formed. For the division of the building the desired partitions are arranged in 7 place as is shown, for example, in FIG. 6. The section 212 has in a long side a wall 253 and in a short side a wall 254. which walls form parts of the outer wall of the building. The section 226 has in the same way a long outer wall 255 and a short outer wall 256, which form parts of the outer walls of the building. The section 226 has furthermore in the short side opposite the wall 256 a wall 252 between columns 250 and 251 of the section 226. The wall 252 faces the open short side of the section 212 that is opposite the wall 254 of the section 212. The columns 246 and 247 are thus in contact with the columns 250 and 252 and may, if desired, be secured thereto. The wall 252 in the section 226 constitutes a partition between the space enclosed by the section 212 and the space enclosed by the section 226. In the same manner, as will be appreciated from FIG. 6, further sections are provided at the desired areas with walls forming partitions between various spaces of the story shown in FIG. 6, so that the story of FIG. 6 has in the sections 226 to 239 five spaces 257, 258, 259, 260, 26l, the space 259 extending over two sections and the other spaces extending each over three sections. All thee sections 226 to 239 are provided in their short sides located on the inner side of the building with a wall corresponding with the wall 251 of the section 226. The sections 214, 215, 216 and 217 and 219, 220, 221, 222 and 223 are provided with walls such as the wall 262 in the section 214 to form in common a partition as a boundary on one side of a passage 263, the other boundary of which is formed by a partition formed by the inner walls of the sections 228 to 237. The passage 263 is thus located at the ends of the sections 214 to 223, each of which sections contains a portion of the passage 263.

The section 219 has lift shaft portions 264 and 265 and a staircase 267. The staircase 267 is located along a long side of the section and joins at its lower end a floor portion 268 in the bottom of the section 219. The top end of the staircase joins a floor of a section arranged above the section 219. The lift shaft portions 264 and 265 have doors 269 and 270 to give access from the passage to the lifts, parts of which are formed by the portions 264 and 265. The overall space of the sections 212 to 225 is divided into four working rooms 272, 273, 274 and 275 separated by partitions in the various sections as is shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 shows the story 211, which may be arranged above the story shown in FIG. 6. The storey 211 is constructed of the same number of sections as the story of FIG. 6. The side 280 of the storey 21 1 has fourteen sections 279. The sections 279 have each in a short side a wall portion 281. These wall portions constitute together an outer wall part of the building in the story concerned. In the other short side of each section 279 a wall portion 282 is provided, which wall portions 282 each constitute a partition for the space enclosed by sections 284 at the other side 283 of the story 21 1. The sections 284 have eacn on one of their short sides an outer wall portion 285. The wall portions 285 constitute together a facade wall of the story 211. The sections on the side 283 are furthermore provided with walls for the formation of the various rooms as shown in FIG. 7.

The story 211, like the storey shown in FIG. 6, has a passage 286 formed by passage portions located in the interior of the building in the ends of the sections 283 in accordance with the passage 263 of FIG. 6 and as shown in FIG. 7. The passage portions extend, as in the other embodiments. transversely of the direction of length of the sections and throughout the width of the sections. Above the section 219 of the story 210 of FIG. 6 is the section 284A of the story 211. The section 284A has a staircase 288, and lift shafts 289 and 290. The lift shaft portions 289 and 290 join the lift shaft portions 264 and 265 and are provided in the same manner with doors for communication with the passage 286, as is shown in FIG. 6 for the shaft portions 264 and 265 and the passage 263. The staircase 288 joins the staircase 267. The staircases and the lift shaft portions of the section 219 and the superjacent section 284A provide the paths of communication between the various stories. The lift shaft portions of this embodiment are located near the ends of the sections. In the embodiments shown the lift shaft portions have a width equal to half the width of the sections and two adjacent lift shaft portions cover the whole width of a section. The lift shaft portions may, if necessary. be arranged in other positions in the sections.

A building comprised of stories as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 may be very useful as an office building having, for example, more than four stories.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show a building 295 having ten stories, the ground floor of which may correspond with the ground floor shown in FIG. 6, whereas the further stories may be like the storey shown in FIG. 7. It will be appreciated that the further stories may be constructed otherwise than as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. However, the sections having the communication paths between the various stories for example, the sections 219 and 284A with the lift shaft portions and the flights of stairs are preferably arranged above one another throughout the height of the building. Thus from the ground floor 296 up to the top stories 297 the sections located one above the other have lift shaft portions for accommodating lifts and flights of stairs, for example, 267 and 288. As an alternative, over part of the height of the building sections having communication paths may be arranged one above the other and sections having communication paths may be arranged over another part of the height of the building so that the sections having the communication paths between the stories in the other part of the building are displaced in a horizontal direction with respect to the sections having the communication paths between the stories in the first part of the building.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show a complex of building, in which the building 295 is one of three buildings 295, 298 and 299, arranged in star-shaped fashion relatively to each other. These three buildings have equal lengths and heights, as will be appreciated from the Figures. The buildings 298 and 299, as is shown for the building 295 in FIGS. 6 and 7, are assembled from prefabricated, box-shaped, space-defining sections, each building being constructed of two rows of sections located side by side and one above the other. The space between the buildings 295, 298 and 299 is occupied by a building 300 which is accessible through a main entrance door 301. However, as an alternative the ground floors of the buildings 295, 298 and 299, for example, the ground floor 296 of the building 295, may be provided with a passage at the center of the building, which extends up to the end of the building located near the building 300. The building 295 may, for example, have a passage 263 extending up to the end 302 of the building in order to provide an access to the building 300.

The building 300 may accommodate rooms fitting the buildings 295, 298 and 299, which are office buildings. The building 300 may accommodate a restaurant with a bar and/or a meeting room.

It will be apparent from FIGS. 7 and 10 that the sections of a story. for example. the sections 284 and 2848 may alternately be provided with windows 303 and 304 having window frames projecting out of the facade over a distance 305. FIG. 10 shows part of the adjacent lower ends of the buildings 295 and 298, and here the window frames. for example. the window frames 303 and 304, projecting out of the facade are shown in detail. In the story 307, located above the second story 306 (see FIG. 10) the sections with the windows having projecting window frames may be offset with respect to the lower story 306. In this way the window frames are arranged in a diagonal pattern along the facade of the building.

Although FIGS. 6 and 7 show a subdivision of a building suitable for an office, a building having a large width, for example, the width 242, obtained by joining the sections with their short sides to each other may be constructed as a dwelling.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a building, the main form of which corresponds with the building 295, this building constituting. however, a hotel. The subdivision of the ground floor 320 may be as shown in FIG. 11. The ground floor 320 as shown in FIG. 11 has on one side 321 a plurality of sections joined to each other by their long sides and on the other side 322 also a plurality of sections joined to each other by their long sides in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6. With the exception of the sections at the ends on the side 322 of the ground floor 320, all sections have a bathroom 323 and an adjacent kitchen or writing desk 324, which may be shutoff, for example, by means ofa pivotable partition, which is not shown in detail. Each of the three sections is provided on its long side with a wall, for example, the section 325 with the walls 326 and 327. Each of the sections just discussed thus forms a hotel room with a bath and a kitchen or a writing desk. In the ends of the building. on the side 322 of the ground floor larger hotel rooms are formed. which are enclosed in two adjacent sections. The sections on the side 321 of the ground floor 320 each have part of a passage 322, for example the part 330 in the section 331, the passage 332 extending over the whole length of the building. Each of the passage parts in the sections is at the end of the section located in the interior of the building. These sections are not provided at their inner ends with walls. since they join the walls located on the inner short sides of the sections of the other side 322 in the manner shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

At the center of the building, viewed in the direction of length, communication paths formed by lifts and staircases are provided to form the junctions between the various stories. To this end the section 331 has a flight of stairs 333 and lift shaft portions 334 and 335, joining corresponding stairs and lift shaft portions of the sections of a higher story above the section 331. The sections 336 and 337 of the ground floor have a hall. the section 337 also including a reception office 338.

FIG. 12 shows a story 340 of a hotel subdivided approximately in the same manner as the story shown in FIG. 11, so that further detailed description may be omitted. Above the section 331 the story 340 has a section 341 which. like the section 331, has a staircase 324 and lift shaft portions 343 and 344, the staircase being locatedabove the staircase 333 and the lift shaft portions 343 and 344 being in line with the lift shaft portions 334 and 335 of the section 331. It will be seen from FIG. 12 that each section. or two adjacent sections, save for those having communication paths forms a hotel room. with the further exception that an advantageous embodiment can be obtained by providing a section. for example. the section 345, near one end with two bathrooms 346 and 347 and kitchens 348 and 349. The bathroom 347 and the kitchen 349 join the hotel room 350, which is in the section 351 located at one side of the section 345. The section 352 located on the other side of the section 345 is also a hotel room that extends over part of the section 345, as will be seen from FIG. 12.

It will be appreciated that larger rooms may be formed in one or more stories. for example. in order to form reception rooms and meeting rooms.

Although various features of the building have been described. and are illustrated in the drawings. which are set forth in the following claims as inventive features. it is to be noted that the invention is not necessarily limited to these features and encompasses all of the features that have been described and illustrated both individually and in various combinations.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim as new and desire to secure by letters patent to the United States is:

l. A prefabricated multistory building comprising a plurality of elongated box-shaped sections, each of which encloses part of the space of the building and in its length extends substantially through the entire width of the building. wherein, viewed on plan, a part of each said section comprises a portion of a passage of the building, said passage extending in the direction of width through the central portion of each said section.

2. A building as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of said sections each comprise a wall portion having a window, said window provided with a surrounding window frame projecting outwardly a substantial distance from the outer side of said wall portion.

3. A building as claimed in claim 2, wherein said sections of a story of the building are alternately provided with a said projecting window frame.

4. A building as claimed in claim 3, wherein said sections of stories lying one above the other are alternately provided with a said projecting window frame.

5. A building as claimed in claim 1, wherein said passage portion extends through the entire width of each said section.

6. A building as claimed in claim 5, wherein said passage portion is located at one end of each said section.

7. A building as claimed in claim 6, wherein the space enclosed by at least one of said sections comprises a bathroom and hallway adjacent said passage portion and the remainder of said space is adapted for living quarters including a bed.

8. A building as claimed in claim 7, wherein bathrooms provided in adjacent of said sections including said one section are located side by side.

9. A building as claimed in claim 5, wherein said passage portion is located approximately midway of the length of each said section.

10. A building as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one section comprises a portion of a side passage which between said first mentioned passage and said second joins said passage portion of the section and at least one further space of said one section.

11. A building as claimed in claim 9, wherein two of said sections consist ofa separate space which forms an apartment, one of said two sections being provided with a bathroom and the other of said two sections being provided with a kitchen. a second passage being provided between said bathroom and said kitchen.

12. A building as claimed in claim 9, wherein on either side of said passage portion in at least one of said sections at least part of an apartment is arranged.

13. A building as claimed in claim 9, wherein each said section has a length equal to the width of the building.

14. A building as claimed in claim 13, wherein on either side of said passage portion, each said section comprises spaces forming at least parts of rooms in the building.

15. A building as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one of said sections comprises a bathroom adjacent said passage portion and a further space adjacent said bathroom and away from said passage portion, said further space having a window.

16. A building as claimed in claim 15, wherein on either side of said passage portion said one section comprises a bathroom and a further space.

17. A building as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one of said sections comprises a kitchen and at least part of a room adjacent said passage portion.

18. A building as claimed in claim 17, wherein said kitchen covers part of the width of said one section.

19. A building as claimed in claim 9, wherein a bathroom and a kitchen are provided in at least one of said sections adjacent said passage, said bathroom and said kitchen extending the same distance across the width of said one section.

20. A building as claimed in claim 19, wherein said kitchen is an open kitchen which joins a space provided in said one section, said space extending at least across the width of said one section.

21. A building as claimed in claim 9, wherein each said section of the building is substantially rectangular in plan and said passage formed by said passage portions of each of said sections extends at right angles to the direction of length of each said section.

22. A building as claimed in claim 21, wherein said passage has a width of about three meters.

23. A building as claimed in claim 22, wherein each said section has a width of more than about two meters and less than about four and one-half meters.

24. A building as claimed in claim 23, wherein each said section has a length of more than about eight meters and less than about fifteen meters.

25. A building as claimed in claim 9, wherein three of said sections consist of a separate space which forms an apartment, a kitchen being provided in the apartment located at one end of a section of said three sections arranged near an outer wall of the building, the part of said three sections adjacent said passage of the building comprising at least part of a second passage of said apartment having a door provided therein leading to said passage of the building.

26. A building as claimed in claim 25, wherein said second passage extends parallel to said first mentioned passage and a wall is provided which forms a partition passage.

27. A building as claimed in claim 26, wherein on the side of said second passage. opposite said first mentioned passage, at least one of said three sections comprise a bedroom.

28. A building as claimed in claim 27, wherein at least one of said three sections comprises a bathroom which extends across substantially the entire width of the section.

29. A building as claimed in claim 27, wherein at least one of said three sections comprises a bathroom which extends across at least about one-half the width of the section.

30. A building as claimed in claim 9, wherein between the bottom and the top of each said section supporting columns are arranged proximate a partition between said passage portion and a further room which is enclosed in each said section.

31. A building as claimed in claim 30, wherein said supporting columns are located in the long sides of each said sections.

32. A building as claimed in claim 31, wherein said supporting columns comprise at least part of a frame of beams constituting at least part of the supporting structure of each said section.

33. A building as claimed in claim 32, wherein said passage portion is formed in each said section between two walls which are provided to extend substantially in the direction of width of each said section, said walls being arranged between said columns located in opposite long sides of each said section.

34. A building as claimed in claim 33, wherein each said section comprises further supporting columns located, viewed in plan, at the corners of each said section and between said corners in the longer sides of each said section.

35. A building as claimed in claim 34, wherein the tops and the bottoms of said supporting columns are secured to horizontal beams provided in each said section, with which said horizontal beams they constitute a supporting frame for each said section.

36. A building as claimed in claim 34, wherein at least one of said supporting columns of each said section has substantially a tubular shaped cross-section and extends the entire height of the section, said supporting columns in other than the other bottom story being situated with their lower ends directly on the upper ends of the supporting columns of the underlying section.

37. A building as claimed in claim 34, wherein at least one of said supporting columns of each said section is composed of metal and encloses a rectangular shaped cross-sectional hollow space.

38. A prefabricated multistory building comprising a plurality of elongated box-shaped sections, each of said sections enclosing part of the space of the building. two of said sections abutting on a shorter end of each and together extending through the entire width of the building with their outboard shorter ends defining in part opposite sides of the building, one of said abutting sections comprising a portion of a passage of the building, said passage extending in the direction of width through said one section.

39. A building as claimed in claim 38, wherein the end of a said section located in the interior of the building joins, by an open side, a closed wall provided at the end of a said abutting section which extends over the further part of the width of the building.

40. A building as claimed in claim 38, wherein a passage portion of at least one said section is located in one end of that section.

41. A building as claimed in claim 40, wherein the building forms an office type building, said sections forming a passage at the center of the building, working rooms being arranged on either side of said passage.

42. A building as claimed in claim 41, wherein said passage is located at adjoining ends of said sections, the length of each said section being substantially equal to one-half the width of the building, at the side of such said sections further said sections being arranged.

43. A building as claimed in claim 42, wherein the building comprises a plurality of stories, substantially at the=center of the building a communication path being provided in a plurality of said sections arranged one above the other.

: A plurality of prefabricated buildings, each of baid buildings having at least two floors, each said building comprised of a plurality of elongated boxshaped sections, each said section enclosing part of the space in said buildings, each said section comprising a portion of a passage extending longitudinally through the center on each floor of said buildings, said buildings each having one end adjacent the ends of the other buildings and extending outwardly therefrom, a triangular area defined between the adjacent ends of said buildings, the longitudinal axes of said passages intersecting in the center of said triangular area.

45. Buildings as claimed in claim 44, consisting of three buildings of substantially equal lengths.

46. Buildings as claimed in claim 45, wherein said three buildings have substantially the same height.

47. Buildings as claimed in claim 44, wherein a general-purpose further building is erected about said triangular area between said adjacent ends of the buildings at least one the ground floor.

48. Buildings as claimed in claim 47, wherein said general-purpose building is accessible from without the plurality of buildings.

49. Buildings as claimed in claim 47, wherein said general-purpose building is adapted to function as a recreation building.

50. Buildings as claimed in claim 49, wherein the general-purpose building comprises a swimmming pool.

51. Buildings as claimed in claim 47, wherein said general-purpose building is accessible from each of the adjacent ends of the plurality of buildings.

52. Buildings as claimed in claim 51, wherein said passage in the first floor of each building provides said access to said general-purpose building.

53. A prefabricated building of at least two stories which is comprised of a plurality of elongated boxshaped sections, each of said sections enclosing part of the space of the building, each said section comprising a framework including vertical metal beams. each said section extending across the entire width of the building, each said section having a pair of separated walls extending transversely across its center, said vertical beams included in said walls. said walls of adjoining sections defining a passage longitudinally along its center on each said story, said vertical beams of each section of each story above the first story being aligned with and directly connected to said vertical beams of the underlying section whereby said vertical beams provide the major part of the central supporting structure of the building.

54. A prefabricated building according to claim 53 wherein at least a portion of said sections include kitchens, said kitchens being located in said portion of said sections adjacent said walls opposite said passage.

55. A prefabricated building according to claim 54, wherein a further portion of said sections include hallways, said hallways being located in said further portion of said sections adjacent said walls opposite said passage.

56. A prefabricated building of at least two stories whch is comprised of a plurality of elongated boxshaped sections, each of said sections enclosing part of the space of the building. each said section comprising a framework including vertical metal beams at the corners thereof, two sections connected end-to-end extending across the entire width of the building with said metal beams at the corners of the connected ends of each section being adjacent, said vertical beams of each section of each story above the first story being aligned with and directly connected to said vertical beams of the underlying section whereby said vertical beams provide the major part of the central supporting structure of the building.

57. A prefabricated building in accordance with claim 56, wherein a centrally located passage is defined by walls provided in a portion of said sections adjacent their said connecting ends through the central part of each story, an elevator shaft being provided through vertically aligned of said sections adjacent said passage. l 

1. A prefabricated multistory building comprising a plurality of elongated box-shaped sections, each of which encloses part of the space of the building and in its length extends substantially through the entire width of the building, wherein, viewed on plan, a part of each said section comprises a portion of a passage of the building, said passage extending in the direction of width through the central portion of each said section.
 2. A building as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of said sections each comprise a wall portion having a window, said window provided with a surrounding window frame projecting outwardly a substantial distance from the outer side of said wall portion.
 3. A building as claimed in claim 2, wherein said sections of a story of the building are alternately provided with a said projecting window frame.
 4. A building as claimed in claim 3, wherein said sections of stories lying one above the other are alternately provided with a said projecting window frame.
 5. A building as claimed in claim 1, wherein said passage portion extends through the entire width of each said section.
 6. A building as claimed in claim 5, wherein said passage portion is located at one end of each said section.
 7. A building as claimed in claim 6, wherein the space enclosed by at least one of said sections comprises a bathroom and hallway adjacent said passage portion and the remainder of said space is adapted for living quarters including a bed.
 8. A building as claimed in claim 7, wherein bathrooms provided in adjacent of said sections including said one section are located side by side.
 9. A building as claimed in claim 5, wherein said passage portion is located approximately midway of the length of each said section.
 10. A building as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one section comprises a portion of a side passage which joins said passage portion of the section and at least one further space of said one section.
 11. A building as claimed in claim 9, wherein two of said sections consist of a separate space which forms an apartment, one of said two sections being provided with a bathroom and the other of said two sections being provided with a kitchen, a second passage being provided between said bathroom and said kitchen.
 12. A building as claimed in claim 9, wherein on either side of said passage portion in at least one of said sections at least part of an apartment is arranged.
 13. A building as claimed in claim 9, wherein each said section has a length equal to the width of the building.
 14. A building as claimed in claim 13, wherein on either side of said passage portion, each said section comprises spaces forming at least parts of rooms in the building.
 15. A building as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one of said sections comprises a bathroom adjacent said passage portion and a further space adjacent said bathroom and away from said passage portion, said further space having a window.
 16. A building as claimed in claim 15, wherein on either side of said passage portion said one section comprises a bathroom and a further space.
 17. A building as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one of said sections comprises a kitchen and at least part of a room adjacent said passage portion.
 18. A building as claimed in claim 17, wherein said kitchen covers part of the width of said one section.
 19. A building as claimed in claim 9, wherein a bathroom and a kitchen are provided in at least one of said sections adjacent said passage, said bathroom and said kitchen extending the same distance across the width of said one section.
 20. A building as claimed in claim 19, wherein said kitchen is an open kitchen which joins a space provided in said one section, said space extending at least across the width of said one section.
 21. A building as claimed in claim 9, wherein each said section of the building is substantially rectangular in plan and said passage formed by said passage portions of each of said sections extends at right angles to the direction of length of each said section.
 22. A building as claimed in claim 21, wherein said passage has a width of about three meters.
 23. A building as claimed in claim 22, wherein each said section has a width of more than about two meters and less than about four and one-half meters.
 24. A building as claimed in claim 23, wherein each said section has a length of more than about eight meters and less than about fifteen meters.
 25. A building as claimed in claim 9, wherein three of said sections consist of a separate space which forms an apartment, a kitchen being provided in the apartment located at one end of a section of said three sections arranged near an outer wall of the building, the part of said three sections adjacent said passage of the building comprising at least part of a second passage of said apartment having a door provided therein leading to said passage of the building.
 26. A building as claimed in claim 25, wherein said second passage extends parallel to said first mentioned passage and a wall is provided which forms a partition between said first mentioneD passage and said second passage.
 27. A building as claimed in claim 26, wherein on the side of said second passage, opposite said first mentioned passage, at least one of said three sections comprise a bedroom.
 28. A building as claimed in claim 27, wherein at least one of said three sections comprises a bathroom which extends across substantially the entire width of the section.
 29. A building as claimed in claim 27, wherein at least one of said three sections comprises a bathroom which extends across at least about one-half the width of the section.
 30. A building as claimed in claim 9, wherein between the bottom and the top of each said section supporting columns are arranged proximate a partition between said passage portion and a further room which is enclosed in each said section.
 31. A building as claimed in claim 30, wherein said supporting columns are located in the long sides of each said sections.
 32. A building as claimed in claim 31, wherein said supporting columns comprise at least part of a frame of beams constituting at least part of the supporting structure of each said section.
 33. A building as claimed in claim 32, wherein said passage portion is formed in each said section between two walls which are provided to extend substantially in the direction of width of each said section, said walls being arranged between said columns located in opposite long sides of each said section.
 34. A building as claimed in claim 33, wherein each said section comprises further supporting columns located, viewed in plan, at the corners of each said section and between said corners in the longer sides of each said section.
 35. A building as claimed in claim 34, wherein the tops and the bottoms of said supporting columns are secured to horizontal beams provided in each said section, with which said horizontal beams they constitute a supporting frame for each said section.
 36. A building as claimed in claim 34, wherein at least one of said supporting columns of each said section has substantially a tubular shaped cross-section and extends the entire height of the section, said supporting columns in other than the other bottom story being situated with their lower ends directly on the upper ends of the supporting columns of the underlying section.
 37. A building as claimed in claim 34, wherein at least one of said supporting columns of each said section is composed of metal and encloses a rectangular shaped cross-sectional hollow space.
 38. A prefabricated multistory building comprising a plurality of elongated box-shaped sections, each of said sections enclosing part of the space of the building, two of said sections abutting on a shorter end of each and together extending through the entire width of the building with their outboard shorter ends defining in part opposite sides of the building, one of said abutting sections comprising a portion of a passage of the building, said passage extending in the direction of width through said one section.
 39. A building as claimed in claim 38, wherein the end of a said section located in the interior of the building joins, by an open side, a closed wall provided at the end of a said abutting section which extends over the further part of the width of the building.
 40. A building as claimed in claim 38, wherein a passage portion of at least one said section is located in one end of that section.
 41. A building as claimed in claim 40, wherein the building forms an office type building, said sections forming a passage at the center of the building, working rooms being arranged on either side of said passage.
 42. A building as claimed in claim 41, wherein said passage is located at adjoining ends of said sections, the length of each said section being substantially equal to one-half the width of the building, at the side of such said sections further said sections being arranged.
 43. A building as claimed in claim 42, wherein the building comprises a plurality of stories, sUbstantially at the center of the building a communication path being provided in a plurality of said sections arranged one above the other.
 44. A plurality of prefabricated buildings, each of said buildings having at least two floors, each said building comprised of a plurality of elongated box-shaped sections, each said section enclosing part of the space in said buildings, each said section comprising a portion of a passage extending longitudinally through the center on each floor of said buildings, said buildings each having one end adjacent the ends of the other buildings and extending outwardly therefrom, a triangular area defined between the adjacent ends of said buildings, the longitudinal axes of said passages intersecting in the center of said triangular area.
 45. Buildings as claimed in claim 44, consisting of three buildings of substantially equal lengths.
 46. Buildings as claimed in claim 45, wherein said three buildings have substantially the same height.
 47. Buildings as claimed in claim 44, wherein a general-purpose further building is erected about said triangular area between said adjacent ends of the buildings at least one the ground floor.
 48. Buildings as claimed in claim 47, wherein said general-purpose building is accessible from without the plurality of buildings.
 49. Buildings as claimed in claim 47, wherein said general-purpose building is adapted to function as a recreation building.
 50. Buildings as claimed in claim 49, wherein the general-purpose building comprises a swimmming pool.
 51. Buildings as claimed in claim 47, wherein said general-purpose building is accessible from each of the adjacent ends of the plurality of buildings.
 52. Buildings as claimed in claim 51, wherein said passage in the first floor of each building provides said access to said general-purpose building.
 53. A prefabricated building of at least two stories which is comprised of a plurality of elongated box-shaped sections, each of said sections enclosing part of the space of the building, each said section comprising a framework including vertical metal beams, each said section extending across the entire width of the building, each said section having a pair of separated walls extending transversely across its center, said vertical beams included in said walls, said walls of adjoining sections defining a passage longitudinally along its center on each said story, said vertical beams of each section of each story above the first story being aligned with and directly connected to said vertical beams of the underlying section whereby said vertical beams provide the major part of the central supporting structure of the building.
 54. A prefabricated building according to claim 53 wherein at least a portion of said sections include kitchens, said kitchens being located in said portion of said sections adjacent said walls opposite said passage.
 55. A prefabricated building according to claim 54, wherein a further portion of said sections include hallways, said hallways being located in said further portion of said sections adjacent said walls opposite said passage.
 56. A prefabricated building of at least two stories whch is comprised of a plurality of elongated box-shaped sections, each of said sections enclosing part of the space of the building, each said section comprising a framework including vertical metal beams at the corners thereof, two sections connected end-to-end extending across the entire width of the building with said metal beams at the corners of the connected ends of each section being adjacent, said vertical beams of each section of each story above the first story being aligned with and directly connected to said vertical beams of the underlying section whereby said vertical beams provide the major part of the central supporting structure of the building.
 57. A prefabricated building in accordance with claim 56, wherein a centrally located passage is defined by walls provided in a portion of said sectiOns adjacent their said connecting ends through the central part of each story, an elevator shaft being provided through vertically aligned of said sections adjacent said passage. 